The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-10
WAsHlNaroN SOCIETY.
Some Very Crude People Found Floating
on the surfAos Of High Life.

Some Very Crude People Found Floating
on the surfAos Of High Life.
Now and then persons in official life
come across crude specimens Of human
ity among their callers, whose remarks.
innocently uttered, to the hostess create
no small amusement. At the house Of
one or the Cabinet Ministers, during the
height of reception not long since,
self-possessed looking female entered,
and after making tour Of the rooms
and satisfying herself with an ample
and prolonged collation. she sauntered
up to the hostess and, eyeing her curi-
ously, said: Excuse me, but whom
have I the honor of addressing?"
Wholly taken back by such a question,
the hostess naturally inquired of the
caller If it were possible that she did
not know in whose house she then was.
20, no." she replied, with the utmost
sang .froid: II never bother about the
names beforehand. 1 just keep list Of
the numbers of the houses where mean
to call"
Sometimes, however, the tables are
turned, and it is the hostess whose con-
duct is open to criticism. A well-known
society lady returned home not long
ago highly indignant at an afront which
she said had been offered her at one of
the houses where she had been to call.
She noticed that as the Waterman
opened the door and held out the salver
for her card he eyed her very attentive
ly, and then, instead of permitting her
to go in the direction from which she
heard the sound of voices in animated
talk and laughter, he solemnly ushered
her into room in which she was en-
tirely alone. Upon her expostulating
with him and insisting upon being per-
mitted to 60 where the other callers
were, he explained that he received or
ders from his mistress whenever any
ladies called with jet trimmings and
pendants on their dresses he was to
| show them at once into the carpeted
room from which she had just come, as
otherwise the waxed floors of the par
lors would be indented and spoiled by
the jet, which was sure to fall off and
be trodden under foot, thereby marring
the polished surface of the floors. 1t is
almost needless to add that the visitor
departed in high dudgeon without
making her intended call.
There is a secret in Washington i'm
| volving the name of Senator's wife of
whom the following is told, as having
occurred recently: The Senator's wife
in her round of visits called on lady
whose marriage within year was one
of the events talked of in official society
on account of the high official position
of her husband. The Senator'S wife, as
the story goes, called on the lady's
''day," and was received with much
cordial politeness, as were all callers.
In little pause after the first saluta-
tions, the Senator's wife said: "Is it
true, Mrs. Blank, that you were clerk
in one of the departments before your
first marriage; and did your mother keep
a boarding-housep''
The hostess proved equal to the unex-
pected assault, as she also proved her.
self a woman of good breeding-which
can not be said of her visitor.
"1es, she replied, with perfect dig
nifty and good temper, ''it is true that ]
was clerk in one of the departments
before my first marriage. But my
mother did not keep Il boarding-house.
If she had l should have had a home,
and there would have been no necessity
for me to be clerk. you know"
The name of the Senator's wife is the
secret society people are just now trying
to find out. The name of the woman
who made the womanly answer is
known, and she is commended on all
hands for her courage and good sense.
She is likely to be liked for herself
rather. than for the social position given
her by her husbands prominence
! Washington Cor. Baltimore american.
/